The San Blas Islands are located along the Caribbean coast of Panama east of the Panama Canal and stretch almost to the Colombian border in a series of approximately 350 islands, of which no more than 50 are inhabited by the Guna Indians. Only a 20-minute plane ride, or 2 1/2-hour truck ride from Panama City, a trip to the San Blas islands will transport you centuries into the past. The friendly Guna Indians, who run all the islands as an autonomous province, have maintained their own economic system, language, customs and culture, with distinctive dress, legends, music and dance. The area is surrounded by reefs, and offers wonderful sailing, snorkeling, and swimming opportunities. One of the best ways to visit these islands is on a sailing charter.

For a slide show overview starting in Portobello, Panama and ending in the San Blas Islands (Guna Yala) check this out....San Blas Islands Pictures

The Bocas del Toro Archipelago is located along the Caribbean coast of Panama, west of the Panama Canal and only a 30-minute plane ride from San Jose, Costa Rica or Panama City. This cruising ground consists of 2 large bays, 8 major islands, and over 200 minor islets. The local population includes Creoles and indigenous Indians. Bocas del Toro provides a great vacation mix - quaint Caribbean towns with hotels, restaurants, and night life, surrounded by the protected bays with stunning reef systems, mangrove islets, island rain forests and local indigenous villages.

About Sailing Vessel Southern Belle

Southern Belle is a 42-foot Fontaine Pajot, Venezia catamaran sailboat. Well maintained and fully equipped for an island cruise, Southern Belle is owned and operated by George and Melinda Salley, both environmental geologists who sailed it from California 7 years ago to explore the Americas.